Combined photograph album and music box



e 1949- v A. H. CANNIZZARO EI'AL 2,473,938 COMBINED PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM AND MUSIC BOX 7 Filed May 12, 1947 INVENTORS Human? Enumzzaau FBuuN F. Enumzzsau J2 1 BY 50%;,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM AND MUSIC BOX Anthony H. Cannizzaro and Pauline F. Cannizzaro, New York, N. Y.

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a surprise photograph album provided with concealed means for automatically producing when the cover is opened a musical composition, so as to entertain the observer as he or she examines one or more of the photographs displayed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for an automatic music box in the photographic album, which utilizes the leaf binding screws of the album book, to hold the music box in position for immediate service, while con cealing it from superficial observation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a music box with a release lever arranged to rock on a bearing supported on the frame of the music box mechanism, to intercept the vanes of an escapement fan, and an operating arm which is engaged by a spring to raise the same when the upper cover of the album is opened.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the surprise photographic album in a closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the upper cover raised to a vertical position to expose the sprin raised starting rod and the coupling book screws.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the mounting of the music box.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the album, showing the uppermost leaf, with the cover entirely removed.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of the upper cover and the music box attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line 66 of Fig. 2, showing the interfitting male and female book leaf binding screws.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the brake lever showing its relation to the escapement.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view thereof, showing the spring raised starting rod.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view, showing an intermediate, action preventing, flap.

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a restraining lever.

Referring to'the drawings, which illustrate the practical embodiment of the invention, I0 designates a bottom cover, having a flap II on the inner end thereof, which folds against the inner side of the cover on the flexible hinge joint I2, Through the end flap H a pair of binding male screws l3 are extended vertically, with their heads l3, located between the confronting sides of the cover and its flap, These male binding screws are spaced apart from each other, to receive the inner binding edges M of the album leaves l5, each of said binding edges or flaps being formed with a hole M through which the male screws l3 extend.

Against the uppermost album leaf the inner flap iii of the upper cover I! is disposed, and this inner flap is connected to the upper cover by means of the flexible hinge lfi so that the cover folds directly over and against the flap Hi. This flap is formed with screw holes l8 to receive the male screws l3, and to permit the female or upper screws 9 to be coupled on the male screws, by insertion through the holes l8 and through the registering holes M The male screws [9 are provided with heads 19* which engage the upper sides of the flap 1 6.

Against the bottom or inner face of the flap 16 a music box 20 is suitably secured. This music box nests in a compartment 2| formed in a series of the uppermost leaves, by means of rectangular slots 2i cut in each of the leaves of the uppermost group of leaves, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The music box 2i] is provided with a winding shaft 22, which is exposed by the hole 22 formed in the flap l5, which is large enough to receive a windin key for turning the shaft 22.

The music box 20 is provided with a rotary drum 23, having small pins 24 projecting radially therefrom, and a series of reeds or vibrating strips 26, disposed in the path of the pins 24. The music box also contains a spring for actuating the drum through the gear mechanism which includes a fan escapement 27, which spins on the shaft 28.

A U-shaped lever 29 is pivoted on the plate 30, carried by the music box 20, and the inner arm 29 of this lever is adapted to be swung into the rotating path of the fan escapement 21, while the outer arm 29 is linked to the starting rod 3 l, which extends through the opening 3 i formed in the flap 16. This rod is pressed upwardly by means of the spring 32, and its upper end is formed with a lateral striker 33, which is engageable by the inner side of the cover l1, and this cover normally holds this spring pressed starting rod depressed against the flap 16, when the cover I! is in normal closed position.

Each of the album leaves is provided with a compartment or other means 34 for holding a photograph or other item for display.

When the upper cover I! is raised to a vertical position or swung outwardly from the album, the striker 33 will be forced upwardly by the action of the spring 32,, thereby disengaging the inner lever arm i9 from the fan escapement 21, and permitting the spring actuated drum 23 to rotate against the vibrating reeds 26.

The rotation of the drum will thus cause the reed strips 26 to reproduce the composition which the arrangement of the pins on the drum 23 are organized to reproduce when engaged by the reeds at the proper rate of rotative motion.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modified arrangement of the combined album and concealed music box, wherein an intermediate flap is hinged to the upper cover to fold against and over the inner flap IA of each of the leaves, Which inner flap or binding edge portion is connected to the body of the leaf by means of the flexible hinge 37, located outwardly of the binding screws and winding key hole.

The intermediate flap 35 is provided on its opposite edges with a springy clip 38, of L-shaped construction at its ends, which has a spring frictional bearingv against the edges of the underly- 1 ing inner flaps M of the other album leaves, so as to normally retain said intermediate flap 35 in a restraining position against the starting striker 33, and prevent the automatic operation of the music box. This intermediate flap may be coupled to the inner flap l6 of the upper cover I? by means of the button snap 39, or other coupling means, so that, when so desired the intermediate flap may be raised with the upper cover, or separated from the upper cover when the latter is raised. In this way the user has the choice, once knowing the secret of the surprise musical action, of operating the music box or restraining it against operation.

In- Fig. 10 another modified form is shown, consisting of a lever pivoted at 4| to the inner flap it of the upper cover, so as to swing over the striker 33 and prevent its elevation when the cover I! is raised.

It is seen that our invention provides an agreeable surprise to the person who consults the album, and this may be of service to its owner, should it be desired to detect curiosity on the part of a visitor, when the hostess is absent from a room.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A book album having a cover and a series of leaves connected to the cover by binding screws and hinged for individual inspection, a self starting spring actuated music box concealed betweencertain of the leaves and provided with a starting element projecting above the leaves, and a second cover hinged to the leaves and adapted to lie against the starting element to hold said music box inoperative, said last-mentioned cover carrying said. music box and said music box fitting in a recess in said leaves between said binding posts and said cover having an inturned hinge flap upon which the music box is mounted.

2. A book album having a bottom cover, a series of leaves having inner flaps disposed on the bottom cover and on each other and over and against each other, binding screws connecting the inner flaps to the bottom cover, certain of the inner flaps having slots therein providing a holding compartment, an upper cover having an inner flap secured to the inner flaps of the leaves to cover said compartment, a music box carried by the inner flap of the upper cover, said music box having spring actuated mechanism and a spring raised starting pin, and a lever connected with said pin for interrupting the operation of the music box when the Starting pin is depressed, the starting pin being located so that the upper cover normally depresses the same when it is closed.

3. A photographic album having a music box provided withsel'f starting mechanism and a release rod, and a series of hinged leaves concealing said music, box and a cover which normally holds said release rod in position to arrest the automatic action of the music box, said lastmentioned cover carrying said music box and said music box fitting in a recess in said leaves between said binding posts and said cover having an inturned hinge flap upon which the music box is mounted.

4. A photographic album, comprising a bottom cover having, an inner flap, a series of leaves having inner, flaps disposed over the inner flap of the bottom cover, binding screws extending through all of said inner flaps to hold the leaves hinged to the bottom cover, an upper cover having an inner flap connected to said binding screws, some of the inner flaps of the leaves having aligned slots providing a receiving compartment, a self starting spring actuated music box secured to the inner flap of the upper cover and disposed in said compartment, the music box having a releasing element and a starting rod connected thereto and extending through the inner flap of the upper cover, and a sprin for raising said starting rod when the upper cover is elevated, said starting rod normally pressing against the lower side of the upper cover.

5. A photographic album having a bottom cover and an upper cover, a series of leaves secured between the two covers, a music box concealed in the inner portions of certain of the leaves and provided with self starting automatic mechanism and a starting rod spring pressed upwardly against the upper cover, and means for preventing the upward movement of the starting rod when the upper cover is raised, said lastmentioned cover carrying said music box and said music box fitting in a recess in said leaves between said binding posts and said cover having an inturned hinge flap upon which the music bOX is mounted.

6. A photographic album having a bottom cover and an upper cover, a series of leaves secured between the covers, certain of the leaves providing a compartment, a music box disposed in said compartment from direct exterior detection and provided with a spring pressed starting rod normally engaged by the upper cover, and a lever pivoted to said album to prevent the movcment of the. starting rod when the upper cover is raised, said last-mentioned cover carrying said music box and said music box fitting in a recess in, said leaves between said binding posts and said cover having an inturned hinge flap upon which the music box is mounted.

7. The combination with an album having a bottom cover section provided with an inner end flap hinged thereto and folded upon itself, a similar upper cover section having an inner end flap folded against itself, a series of leaves disposed between the inner cover flaps, each of the leaves having an inner flap, male and female connecting screws binding all of the inner flaps to each other, certain of the inner leaf flaps having compartment forming slots, an automatic music box carried by the inner flap of the upper cover section and projecting into said compartment forming slots, said music box having a spring raised starting rod engaging the upper cover section, and a lever pivoted on said upper cover section to hold the starting rod against movement.

8. A photographic album comprising a base having a plurality of binding posts extending upwardly therefrom parallel to and adjacent one narrow edge thereof, a plurality of loose album leaves having hinge sections and photograph sections connected to one another, said hinge sections having holes aligned with and fitting into said posts and also having enlarged aligned openings between said posts, a top cover having an inturned hinge section fitting onto the upper ends of said posts and having a swinging top section to close down over said inturned hinge section and said loose album leaves, and a music box carried by said inturned hinge section on the underside thereof and fitted into said aligned holes.

9. The album of claim 8 in which the inturned hinge section is provided with openings through which actuating members for said music box project, said actuating members being operated by the top cover closing and opening on said inturned hinge section.

10. The album of claim 8 in which said inturned hinge section is provided with an opening to permit winding of said music box.

11. The album of claim 8 in which the inturned hinge section is provided with a swinging lever to control the operation of said music box.

12. The album of claim 8, in which the inturned hinge section is provided with a U-shaped spring clip controlling operation of said music box.

ANTHONY H. CANNIZZARO. PAULINE F. CANNIZZARO.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 15, 1939 Number 

